In an interview with John Thune, now senator-elect (R-SD), MSNBC Hardball host Chris Matthews cited as "a wonderful piece" a 2002 National Reviewarticle that falsely charged Democrats with voter fraud as a result of the unprecedented levels of Native Americans who voted in South Dakota's 2002 U.S. Senate election. In that election, Thune lost to incumbent Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD).

On November 3, Matthews said to Thune: "[Y]ou lost a heartbreaker for the United States Senate. And afterwards, you didn't complain, you didn't say there was hanky-panky on the other side, although you could have. I read a wonderful piece by [National Review White House correspondent] Byron York about it." But as Media Matters for America has noted, South Dakota's Republican attorney general dismissed claims of wrongdoing, calling the affidavits supporting Republican charges "flat false."

MATTHEWS: But let me ask you about [unseated Senate Minority Leader Thomas A.] Daschle [D-SD] killing. I watched your campaign two years ago. And I noticed that you lost a heartbreaker for the United States Senate. And afterwards, you didn`t complain, you didn`t say there was hanky-panky on the other side, although you could have. I read a wonderful piece by Byron York about it. You probably read it in The Weekly Standard. Do you think that was part of your success? Just the fact that you were a gentleman last time?

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